Randy Travis’ 2019 Tour Mostly Canceled Due to Production Issues
All but three dates of the first Randy Travis tour since a 2013 stroke forced the legend into retirement have been cancelled. Billboard reports the cause as "production and content issues."
Travis' The Music of Randy Travis Tour was scheduled to begin on Oct. 16 in Indianapolis, Ind., and include a dozen shows through early November, but according to Billboard, only the Oct. 17 show at Evansville, Ind.'s Victory Theatre, an Oct. 19 date at the Island View Casino in Gulfport, Miss., and an Oct. 28 appearance at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium remain. According to a representative for Travis, his team is focusing on those three performances and "hopes to add more markets on Travis’ next trek."
The nine cancelled The Music of Randy Travis Tour dates impact several major markets; however, in addition to the three performances reported by Billboard as still occurring, Ticketmaster is still selling tickets for the Indianapolis show and a Nov. 1 stop in Minneapolis, Minn. As of Tuesday morning (Oct. 8), Ticketmaster pages for the canceled events read: "Refunds at point of purchase only. Internet and phone orders will automatically be canceled and refunded."
Explains a statement on the Macon Auditorium's website, "The Music of Randy Travis concert is canceled due to unexpected production and technical issues related to the elaborate content of the show. The Randy Travis Organization along with Outback Presents and Ontourage Management says, 'We are truly sorry we will not be able to do all of the scheduled concerts. We ask Randy’s fans to be patient and understanding as we want this return, the first time in six years, to be special for each of you. He and James Duprè are looking forward to coming to each city and sharing this one of a kind experience with fans in the near future.' Again, we are sorry for the inconvenience."
The Music of Randy Travis teams Travis' classic backing band with former The Voice contestant James Dupre for a tribute to Travis' hits. Travis was slated to attend all 12 of the trek's original dates for meet and greets and, potentially, onstage appearances during "Forever and Ever, Amen."
"The world was stripped of Randy Travis' voice, and people deserve to be able to get back out and see him, and I'm honored to be a part of that," Dupre said during a Sept. 4 press conference announcing the tour. The Louisiana native has been a friend to Travis and his wife Mary since they starred together in the 2016 film The Price, which was filmed prior to Travis' stroke.
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